Dubai: Two Syrians, aged three and five-years-old, could be the youngest couple in the world to get engaged of their own free will.

The parents of Hala, aged three and her fiancee Khalid, aged five, claim the children have consented to the match. Their story was highlighted by the local Syrian website Akes Alser, (meaning Against the Traffic) and has become the talk of the country with the families of both children being congratulated by people, both from their home town Homs, 180 kilometres north of Damascus, and, abroad.

Khalid's father, Juma told Gulf News that his young son is the only child from his marriage which lasted more than 25 years.

"My wife and I got Khalid after 20 years of marriage, in a complicated pregnancy. I vowed to have my child engaged at the age of five if he was a boy and to marry him to a women of his choice at the age of 15," he said.

"Days passed before Khalid fell in love with a three-year-old girl he met during a family trip to the sea town of Lattakia."

Education

He added that the union is likely to interrupt their schooling. "I will bear the education expenses of both the children till they graduate," he said.

Khalid had reportedly been missing his young girlfriend after he returned with his family to Homs. He refused to return to the nursery he was attending if the little girl did not go with him.

"Khalid told me and his mother that he would like to have stayed with Hala or bring her home to Homs. The young bride seems very genuine," Juma said.

"We did not know what to do till my wife called Hala's mother and asked her opinion about the case. She said her daughter had developed similar symptoms of loneliness and the family would be happy to see them engaged."

"At that moment I remembered the vow I'd made before Khalid's birth, and decided to buy the couple rings. The family moved back to Lattakia to celebrate the engagement," he said.

Exchanging rings

Juma said all the arrangements had gone smoothly and that the couple had exchanged rings like adults.

"We know that Khalid or Hala might change their mind in the future, but what we do know at this stage is that they are very happy and talk to each other everyday. Khalid is waiting until he is 15 to marry Hala.

Comments

Claude Fernandes

Childhood days are days of frolic and fun. Parents should focus their attention of developing innate abilities of their children and not infuse these thoughts in their mind.

Ali

Oct 21, 2010 3:36

This is ridiculous..first of all Gulf news should not be publishing such a story. I beleive GN is a weel reputed professional newspaper and publishsing just childish stories does not reflect good on the newspaper. Secondly i beleive the parents are behaving in an extremely immature manner. Completely ridisulous story.

Salma Ali

Oct 21, 2010 2:19

This is appalling! It's a form of abuse, letting these children get engaged at such a young age! This is not a game like playing house! and it has consequences that will ring out even in these children's teenage years! If the parents don't want their kids to have boyfriends or girlfriends, they could instill those values in their children and trust them enough to know how to behave. How can they possible think the responsiblity of such a decision can rest easy on those tiny shoulders?

Gurpreet Singh

Oct 21, 2010 2:13

This is really strange and odd in today's modern & educated society. Though there was a time in India almost 30-40 years back when child marriage used to take place with consent of both families. But this was then stopped later by Govt. Of India. I am sure as this youngest couple would grow, there actions are likely going to affect their lifestyles as they will never be able to experience the life living as singles or teenagers.

MERIN MONI

Oct 21, 2010 2:05

Its soo sweet to see them loving each other at this age were there is no faults in there love !! They are too innocent to love & care 4 each other .Wishing them good luck !!!!

steve

Oct 21, 2010 1:50

Gulf news has big responsibility in publishing this article, it seems that you crossed ethical standard here from the way you report this.Its like publishing all press releases by Bin Laden and glorifying it. Come on your headline sanitizes the situation and pretends that it is Ok...but all knew that close minded people will only agree to this engagement.Some people just live in the Middle ages and will be left there. Some stories need not be published., full stop.

Gaurav

Oct 21, 2010 1:33

This is not correct, does not reflect a good image. We are overlooking the fact that how this will be understood by hundreds of nationalities in UAE and how this will be understood by the highly connected world with diverse civilizations. Current times do not recognize this as a positive act. This may put certain degree of pressure on these two children themselves as they will grow up and face the other non engaged free crowd. On other comments, Id say that if they are free to break this marriage when they grow up, then we are ourselves giving an indication that marriage is a breakable relation. This message is not correct as well.Anyways, God Bless them.

Mathew Litty

Oct 21, 2010 1:12

I am with You Mr Haider. I agree with your view points. this is todays generation . as long as they are together and will remain intimate for ever then its best we leave it to the children. the parents also do not have an objection too.

Nader

Oct 21, 2010 12:28

awesome.........lets see what they will do when they grow up.......i wish them all the best......at least its a free country......even kids can do whatever they want. go ahead guys ,....FREEDOM

Shaikha

Oct 21, 2010 12:21

Engagement isn't hide-&-seek! They should be enjoying their childhood... not thinking about engagements or whatsoever, choosing a right life partner comes when the right time comes to it..

haider

Oct 21, 2010 12:05

Very nice, Happy marriage, They are innocent and it will help them to live clean and innocent. May God help them to keep on right path and help them to live a happy life.I know many ppl will oppose my comments but truely speaking. these kids will not get open chance to do sin by having girl friends or by looking other girls or boys when they will get adult. There is also a concept of childhood love, InshaAllah I hope they will live happy

sobia

Oct 21, 2010 12:04

OMG, Are the parents serious? what example are they setting for the youngsters?

Wajih

Oct 21, 2010 11:08

Nothing wrong in this ... Parents are agreed if they change their mind later with the time. Child engagement and marriage is not good where it is against the will and is enforced.Finally children have to decide to marry or not when they will be grown up, meanwhile let them ENJOY.

Sana Lababidi

Oct 21, 2010 11:05

Congratulations on the engagement...a nice camera is coming your way!!!

Rafia

Oct 21, 2010 10:25

ThIs is such a joke of a human lyf tym,their parents shd be dragged down to da court, 5 and 3 yrs cant live widout eachother and feeling LONELY? OMG wht shall we think of those who r in their 20s and 30s??ths is certainly da height of insanity...!! TOTALLY SHOCKING NEWS..!!

dido

Oct 21, 2010 10:24

this not marriage, they engage from this age till they become over 18 then they get marry, so dont be shocked from this news, you should be shock when you hear about women marry a snack , and other news about man marry a female dog , you know where that happens ? search in google and you will discover hahahahha.

Saeed Mohammad Wazed

Oct 21, 2010 10:05

oh come on!!!! Which kid hasn't played House!!! Its just fun and Game to them... they don't know right from wrong yet.. You give a kid a companion to play with they will obviously be happy, if u take them away they will want them to come back and play some more... The parents should know better..

Swed

Oct 21, 2010 9:59

The kids are cute, may God protect them, but this is ridiculous, unrealisitc, and unhealthy. What does a 5 year old and a 3 year old know about anything in life let alone marriage?I need not say more as the first comment of this thread by the anonymous on 21 Oct 2010, explains it very well

Kate

Oct 21, 2010 9:46

Are these people serious!?!They are 5 and 3 years old, they cannot 'consent' to marriage!! I got married when I was 4 to Oliver and was the priest that married my best friend Sophie to Mark. But it was all play in the school playground. For god sake, you don't realise what its all about at that age. They will be brought up like brother and sister and then made to have children together!

Anonymous

Oct 21, 2010 9:26

Child Marriages were common in Asia but that was long time ago. The constitutions in various countries in the continent brought up the rule to abolish child marriages. Main reasons were Biological/physical, mental and social. Children are led to be married. Influenced by various sources and causes. Those causes are social. Should the children know what they are doing, they should be guided to take the right decisions. Parents play a major part in governing their lives till a certain age, after which their children are called adults. The physical and mental changes from childhood to adulthood are profound. Its a matter of chance if their marriage still holds good when they reach adulthood. The trauma of the children during this phase is unimaginable. Responsible parents must abide by the rules of nature. Everything should happen at a time that is best suited...or else it is premature. :)

Khurram Asif

Oct 21, 2010 8:56

Pathetic!!This sort of thing should be banned and the parents banished!

afreen tolani

Oct 21, 2010 8:33

What a joke! There are all sorts of people in this world. At one extreme you will find 40 year olds who dont want to get married and at the other extreme you find 3 year olds (put into their heads by their families!) that they cant stay without each other.

rada

Oct 21, 2010 12:07

This is quite a cute story but this is not a good example for very young kids to get engaged on their early age. Tradition and culture of arranged marriage should be settled once their age at least reached their adolescent stage not on their toddler age. These kids should not be tolerated just because of feeling sad and lonely for not seeing each other but instead they should be taught with the proper values regarding the feeling of infatuation and admiration. And if these two kids will get married at the age of 15 or 16 they will never learn to be independent and provide a living for their family.

Mathew Litty

Oct 20, 2010 10:03

OMG, Whats happening in this world? kids getting engaged and married at a very young age. I was shocked after i read the whole report and i dont know how the parents agreed and came to [such] a conclusion. These kids have got lots to learn and explore. But again if both Khalid and hala loves each other and have a trust that they will stick on for ever then its up to them. parents should give freedom to their children to think for themselves as its they who need to decide who is the right partner. Its completely your choice.

Mathew Litty

Oct 20, 2010 10:03

OMG, Whats happening in this world? kids getting engaged and married at a very young age. I was shocked after i read the whole report and i dont know how the parents agreed and came to [such] a conclusion. These kids have got lots to learn and explore. But again if both Khalid and hala loves each other and have a trust that they will stick on for ever then its up to them. parents should give freedom to their children to think for themselves as its they who need to decide who is the right partner. Its completely your choice.

rada

Oct 21, 2010 12:07

This is quite a cute story but this is not a good example for very young kids to get engaged on their early age. Tradition and culture of arranged marriage should be settled once their age at least reached their adolescent stage not on their toddler age. These kids should not be tolerated just because of feeling sad and lonely for not seeing each other but instead they should be taught with the proper values regarding the feeling of infatuation and admiration. And if these two kids will get married at the age of 15 or 16 they will never learn to be independent and provide a living for their family.

afreen tolani

Oct 21, 2010 8:33

What a joke! There are all sorts of people in this world. At one extreme you will find 40 year olds who dont want to get married and at the other extreme you find 3 year olds (put into their heads by their families!) that they cant stay without each other.

Khurram Asif

Oct 21, 2010 8:56

Pathetic!!This sort of thing should be banned and the parents banished!

Anonymous

Oct 21, 2010 9:26

Child Marriages were common in Asia but that was long time ago. The constitutions in various countries in the continent brought up the rule to abolish child marriages. Main reasons were Biological/physical, mental and social. Children are led to be married. Influenced by various sources and causes. Those causes are social. Should the children know what they are doing, they should be guided to take the right decisions. Parents play a major part in governing their lives till a certain age, after which their children are called adults. The physical and mental changes from childhood to adulthood are profound. Its a matter of chance if their marriage still holds good when they reach adulthood. The trauma of the children during this phase is unimaginable. Responsible parents must abide by the rules of nature. Everything should happen at a time that is best suited...or else it is premature. :)

Kate

Oct 21, 2010 9:46

Are these people serious!?!They are 5 and 3 years old, they cannot 'consent' to marriage!! I got married when I was 4 to Oliver and was the priest that married my best friend Sophie to Mark. But it was all play in the school playground. For god sake, you don't realise what its all about at that age. They will be brought up like brother and sister and then made to have children together!

Swed

Oct 21, 2010 9:59

The kids are cute, may God protect them, but this is ridiculous, unrealisitc, and unhealthy. What does a 5 year old and a 3 year old know about anything in life let alone marriage?I need not say more as the first comment of this thread by the anonymous on 21 Oct 2010, explains it very well

Saeed Mohammad Wazed

Oct 21, 2010 10:05

oh come on!!!! Which kid hasn't played House!!! Its just fun and Game to them... they don't know right from wrong yet.. You give a kid a companion to play with they will obviously be happy, if u take them away they will want them to come back and play some more... The parents should know better..

dido

Oct 21, 2010 10:24

this not marriage, they engage from this age till they become over 18 then they get marry, so dont be shocked from this news, you should be shock when you hear about women marry a snack , and other news about man marry a female dog , you know where that happens ? search in google and you will discover hahahahha.

Rafia

Oct 21, 2010 10:25

ThIs is such a joke of a human lyf tym,their parents shd be dragged down to da court, 5 and 3 yrs cant live widout eachother and feeling LONELY? OMG wht shall we think of those who r in their 20s and 30s??ths is certainly da height of insanity...!! TOTALLY SHOCKING NEWS..!!

Sana Lababidi

Oct 21, 2010 11:05

Congratulations on the engagement...a nice camera is coming your way!!!

Wajih

Oct 21, 2010 11:08

Nothing wrong in this ... Parents are agreed if they change their mind later with the time. Child engagement and marriage is not good where it is against the will and is enforced.Finally children have to decide to marry or not when they will be grown up, meanwhile let them ENJOY.

sobia

Oct 21, 2010 12:04

OMG, Are the parents serious? what example are they setting for the youngsters?

haider

Oct 21, 2010 12:05

Very nice, Happy marriage, They are innocent and it will help them to live clean and innocent. May God help them to keep on right path and help them to live a happy life.I know many ppl will oppose my comments but truely speaking. these kids will not get open chance to do sin by having girl friends or by looking other girls or boys when they will get adult. There is also a concept of childhood love, InshaAllah I hope they will live happy

Shaikha

Oct 21, 2010 12:21

Engagement isn't hide-&-seek! They should be enjoying their childhood... not thinking about engagements or whatsoever, choosing a right life partner comes when the right time comes to it..

Nader

Oct 21, 2010 12:28

awesome.........lets see what they will do when they grow up.......i wish them all the best......at least its a free country......even kids can do whatever they want. go ahead guys ,....FREEDOM

Mathew Litty

Oct 21, 2010 1:12

I am with You Mr Haider. I agree with your view points. this is todays generation . as long as they are together and will remain intimate for ever then its best we leave it to the children. the parents also do not have an objection too.

Gaurav

Oct 21, 2010 1:33

This is not correct, does not reflect a good image. We are overlooking the fact that how this will be understood by hundreds of nationalities in UAE and how this will be understood by the highly connected world with diverse civilizations. Current times do not recognize this as a positive act. This may put certain degree of pressure on these two children themselves as they will grow up and face the other non engaged free crowd. On other comments, Id say that if they are free to break this marriage when they grow up, then we are ourselves giving an indication that marriage is a breakable relation. This message is not correct as well.Anyways, God Bless them.

steve

Oct 21, 2010 1:50

Gulf news has big responsibility in publishing this article, it seems that you crossed ethical standard here from the way you report this.Its like publishing all press releases by Bin Laden and glorifying it. Come on your headline sanitizes the situation and pretends that it is Ok...but all knew that close minded people will only agree to this engagement.Some people just live in the Middle ages and will be left there. Some stories need not be published., full stop.

MERIN MONI

Oct 21, 2010 2:05

Its soo sweet to see them loving each other at this age were there is no faults in there love !! They are too innocent to love & care 4 each other .Wishing them good luck !!!!

Gurpreet Singh

Oct 21, 2010 2:13

This is really strange and odd in today's modern & educated society. Though there was a time in India almost 30-40 years back when child marriage used to take place with consent of both families. But this was then stopped later by Govt. Of India. I am sure as this youngest couple would grow, there actions are likely going to affect their lifestyles as they will never be able to experience the life living as singles or teenagers.

Salma Ali

Oct 21, 2010 2:19

This is appalling! It's a form of abuse, letting these children get engaged at such a young age! This is not a game like playing house! and it has consequences that will ring out even in these children's teenage years! If the parents don't want their kids to have boyfriends or girlfriends, they could instill those values in their children and trust them enough to know how to behave. How can they possible think the responsiblity of such a decision can rest easy on those tiny shoulders?

Ali

Oct 21, 2010 3:36

This is ridiculous..first of all Gulf news should not be publishing such a story. I beleive GN is a weel reputed professional newspaper and publishsing just childish stories does not reflect good on the newspaper. Secondly i beleive the parents are behaving in an extremely immature manner. Completely ridisulous story.

Claude Fernandes

Oct 21, 2010 3:37

Childhood days are days of frolic and fun. Parents should focus their attention of developing innate abilities of their children and not infuse these thoughts in their mind.

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